Louisiana farmers who were hit by Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike this year are struggling to recover from $1 billion in losses.

The state lost 60 percent of its cotton crop, 30 percent of soybeans and 13 percent of the sugar harvest. That should make for an easy argument to Congress for federal aid, but it hasn't worked so far.

Part of the problem is that the federal government is phasing in a new approach to disaster relief for farmers, but it hasn't launched the new program. Congress has already approved money for the program, but it is tied up in red tape.

Louisiana Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter have been trying to free up that money. They put more than $1 billion into a bill earlier this fall, but it was held up by Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn -- whose nickname is Dr. No.

Sen. Landrieu said she now will work to ensure that a proposed $1.2 billion in disaster relief for farmers makes it into an economic stimulus package that is expected to be considered in the new year. The money likely would flow to farmers under the old disaster rules.

Congress ought to be open to that request. It makes no sense to punish farmers who had storm damage simply because the federal government hasn't finished writing new rules.

In addition to the problem with the timing of the new farm aid regulations, crop insurance "is not affordable or reasonable" in Louisiana, Commissioner Mike Strain said. The rates for insurance in Southern states are roughly double what farmers in other regions pay, even though claims have been relatively low.

The combination of high insurance premiums and intense storm seasons will be virtually impossible to overcome without federal help. Federal agencies have made $26 million in agricultural aid available, but that is a fraction of the damage done by these storms.

To his credit, Commissioner Strain has been a passionate advocate for state farmers. Now Congress just needs to listen to him.